Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure What is an

Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure

What is an engineer? • Engineers are creative problem-solvers. • Engineers make a world of difference. • Engineering is essential to our health, happiness, and safety. • Engineers help shape the future. davisva@auburn. edu engineeringmessages. org

14 Engineering Grand Challenges 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Engineer better medicines Reverse-engineer the brain Prevent nuclear terror Secure cyberspace Enhance virtual reality Advance personalized learning Engineer the tools of scientific discovery http: //www. engineeringchallenges. org/8996. aspx 8. Make solar energy economical 9. Provide energy from fusion 10. Develop carbon sequestration methods 11. Manage the nitrogen cycle 12. Provide access to clean water 13. Restore and improve urban infrastructure 14. Advance health informatics

What is Urban Infrastructure & why does it matter?

“From the 1930 s to the 1960 s, the U. S. built the greatest infrastructure the world had ever seen, and it played a critical role in our rise as a superpower. That whole build-out is reaching the end of its lifecycle and groaning under loads it was never supposed to handle. Design flaws, not enough money, normal corrosion, and decades of deferred maintenance have conspired to break America’s infrastructure down. ” — The History Channel’s documentary, “The Crumbling of America” June 22, 2009

Examples • http: //www. infrastructurereportcard. org/exec utive-summary/ • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=vm. Nol. F 2 l GFc&t=9 s

How Can Nanotechnology Help? Nanotechnology and the Built Environment Crystal Research Associates, LLC Nov 17, 2011 http: //www. fullertreacymoney. com/system/data/images/archive/2012 -12 -28/nano. pdf

Self-Cleaning Concrete (and Paint) • Nanoscale Titanium Dioxide Photochemistry • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=n. Bw 7 u. UYb. Zg http: //www. lehighhanson. com/txactive davisva@auburn. edu

Other Ways to Make Things Self-Cleaning • Texture – Zoom into a lotus leaf – https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=s. Cjmpy. Ql. HYM • Surface Chemistries such as trimethylsilanol – Neverwet – Magic. Sand • Infrastructure • How could similar materials be used for infrastructure? • Can you imagine why you would want water to permeate instead of being repelled? davisva@auburn. edu neverwet. com

Nanomaterials to Increase Strength • Numerous nanomaterials being explored to enable high strength light weight materials • Some of these are inspired by natural materials such as the abalone sea shell – The structure and its chemistry both matter TUMS davisva@auburn. edu

Infrastructure at Auburn • Charles D. Mc. Crary Institute • http: //mccrary. auburn. edu/ • http: //ecm. eng. auburn. edu/wp/emag/? p=4023 davisva@auburn. edu

QUESTIONS? davisva@auburn. edu